Senior Researcher – Artificial Specialized Intelligence, Microsoft Research

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Date posted

Aug 12, 2025

Job number

1860129

Work site

Up to 50% work from home

Travel

0-25**%**

Role type

Individual Contributor

Profession

Research, Applied, & Data Sciences

Discipline

Research Sciences

Employment type

Full-Time

Overview

Microsoft Research Asia – Vancouver lab, located in the vibrant city of Vancouver, BC, Canada, our lab represents Microsoft Research Asia’s exciting expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. We’re on a mission to transform the future of artificial intelligence by bridging the gap between cutting-edge general AI and the specialized, real-world applications that drive meaningful impact.

We are currently seeking a Senior Researcher in the area of Artificial Specialized Intelligence, with a keen interest in developing cutting-edge large foundation models and post-training techniques for different domains and scenarios.

At the Vancouver Lab, we focus on deeply integrating intelligent systems across every layer of computing—from infrastructure to the physical environment. Our goal is to solve complex, real-world challenges with precision, scalability, and cost-efficiency. This means working at the intersection of AI, human interaction, and environmental context through a dynamic, co-evolutionary process.

If you're passionate about pushing the boundaries of AI and want to be part of a team that’s shaping the future of intelligent systems, we invite you to explore opportunities with us. This is an opportunity to drive an ambitious research agenda while collaborating with diverse teams to push for novel applications of those areas.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Doctorate in computer science or relevant field
  • OR equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate in relevant field AND 2+ years related research experience.
  • OR equivalent experience.
• Experience publishing academic papers as a lead author or essential contributor.
• Experience participating in a top conference in relevant research domain.
• Background in system and architecture, including experience with computer hardware, software, and networking technologies.
• Deep knowledge about the latest large model training/inference technology such as instruction finetuning, Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Reinforcement Learning with Hindsight Experience Replay (RLHF), processed and self-reward modeling, low-precision training/inference, etc.
• A track record of published research in the field of AI or other system innovation is a plus.
• Keen interest in general AI research, including but not limited to large foundation models and artificial specialized intelligence.

Research Sciences IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across Canada is CAD $114,400 - CAD $203,900 per year.

Find additional pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/canada-pay-information.html

Microsoft will accept applications and processes offers for these roles on an ongoing basis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research in large foundation models, focusing on applying large foundation models in specific domain.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate solutions into Artificial Intelligence (AI) -driven system.

• Develop and maintain research prototypes and software tools, ensuring that they are well-documented and adhere to best practices in software development.

• Publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals and present your work at industry events.

• Collaborate with other AI researchers and engineers, sharing knowledge and expertise to foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning within the team.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.

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Industry leading healthcare

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Educational resources

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Discounts on products and services

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Savings and investments

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Maternity and paternity leave

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Generous time away

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Giving programs

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Opportunities to network and connect

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.